In the world of tech, having a robot assistant at home has long been a dream straight out of science fiction.
But that dream is getting closer to reality, thanks to American tech giant Nvidia.
On Tuesday, during their highly anticipated event in San Jose, California, Nvidia unveiled Blue, an advanced AI-powered robot that stands at just 3 feet tall and walks with an endearing, duck-like waddle.
Introducing Blue, Nvidia’s Latest Robot Creation
Blue made quite an entrance at the GTC AI Conference, affectionately introduced by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
“Tell me that wasn’t amazing!” Huang exclaimed to the audience as Blue made its way across the stage.
The robot’s movements were not entirely independent, though – it was being remotely controlled by a staff member backstage.
Still, the demonstration left the audience buzzing with excitement.
Much like the iconic robots in Star Wars and Wall-E, Blue responds with cute bleeps and bloops when interacting with its creator, Huang.
Despite its charm, it’s clear that Blue still has a long way to go before becoming fully autonomous.
Collaboration with Google and Disney to Take Blue Global
Blue’s journey isn’t just confined to Nvidia’s headquarters.
The company’s collaboration with Google and Disney has big plans for the robot.
This summer, Blue will make appearances at several Disney theme parks, including Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland Paris.
With Nvidia’s cutting-edge computers powering Blue, this robot has been designed to perform complex tasks, aided by a powerful AI-driven physics engine called Newton.
Nvidia, a company known for its powerful graphics processing units (GPUs), has increasingly shifted its focus from chips to building AI infrastructure.
“We’re not making chips anymore; those were the good old days,” Huang said during the conference. “What we do now is build AI infrastructure.”
Boston Dynamics Responds with Atlas: A Humanoid Robot Performing Acrobatics
While Nvidia was unveiling Blue, Boston Dynamics, a competitor in the robotics field, was also making waves with its own humanoid robot, Atlas.
In a timely post, Boston Dynamics shared an impressive video showing Atlas performing cartwheels, forward rolls, handstands, and breakdancing moves.
However, much like Blue, Atlas’s movements were being controlled through “motion capture,” meaning a human operator was guiding its actions.
Although Atlas is not available for sale, the robot is designed as a research platform meant to explore the limits of mobility.
Boston Dynamics envisions Atlas helping with search and rescue missions in rough, outdoor terrain, pushing the boundaries of what humanoid robots can do.
Humanoid Robots with Living Skin Are Becoming a Reality in Japan
In another groundbreaking development, scientists in Japan are working on creating lifelike humanoid robots that feature living skin.
Researchers from the University of Tokyo have successfully created a robot face made of lab-grown human skin.
This creation may seem straight out of a sci-fi movie, but the researchers believe these robots could eventually heal themselves if damaged, taking human-like qualities to a new level.
These advancements highlight the rapid pace at which robotics technology is evolving, with the potential to change everything from home assistance to search and rescue operations.
The future of robots like Blue, Atlas, and even the skin-covered humanoids is looking incredibly promising, as tech companies push the boundaries of what these machines can do.